Chapter 311: Lost Both Man and Money

But for that to happen, Chen Qingdi’s demands had to be met. Otherwise, he would lose his only family member.

Finally, on the evening of the third day, Chen Yuan came to the office again. His expression was grim, and his gaze flickered as he looked at Chen Qingdi.

"Cyan Emperor, Kojima Tetsumaro has agreed to our demands." Chen Yuan’s voice was low.

A flash of satisfaction appeared in Chen Qingdi’s eyes. "Good. Then tell him to bring the money and the person."

"But he proposed a condition," Chen Yuan said hesitantly.

"A condition?" Chen Qingdi’s brows knitted together. "What kind of condition?"

"He’s demanding that we let Kojima Hideko go," Chen Yuan’s voice grew even lower.

A flicker of surprise crossed Chen Qingdi’s eyes, and then he laughed. "The guy’s got some backbone after all. Fine. Since he’s showing such sincerity, we’ll give him a chance. But if he tries to pull any tricks, I’ll make sure he lives to regret it."

Chen Yuan nodded. "I’ll relay the message."

Chen Qingdi waved his hand. "Alright, you can go."

After Chen Yuan left, silence returned to the office.

Chen Qingdi sat at his desk and began organizing files. His movements were deft and swift, clearly the result of long practice.

’He knew very well that this world was a cruel place where only the strong survived. And he was one of the strong.’

「Two days later.」

Chen Yuan walked into the basement. He looked at Kojima Hideko and said in a cold tone.

"If your brother, Kojima Tetsumaro, hasn’t delivered the ten million US dollars by the last day, you can say goodbye to one of your arms."

Kojima Hideko’s face went pale. He couldn’t believe his own brother would sacrifice his arm for ten million US dollars.

He looked at Chen Yuan, his eyes filled with terror and disbelief.

"But don’t you dare blame us," Chen Yuan continued. "If you have to blame someone, blame your brother for thinking money is more important than you are."

With that, Chen Yuan turned and left the basement. Kojima Hideko’s heart ached with agony; he felt profoundly betrayed by his brother.

He asked a guard for a phone and immediately called his brother, Kojima Tetsumaro.

"Brother, please, pay the ransom and get me out of here," Kojima Hideko said frantically. "Otherwise, they’re going to cut off my arm!"

However, Kojima Tetsumaro’s reply sent a chill through Kojima Hideko’s heart. He said, "I haven’t thought this through yet. Once I have, I’ll contact them."

With that, Kojima Tetsumaro hung up. Kojima Hideko stood frozen to the spot. The phone slipped from his hand and clattered onto the cold floor.

The pain and disappointment in his heart felt like a sharp blade plunging deep into his chest.

’He had always believed the bond between family was unbreakable, that it could never be severed by money.’

’But now, he was beginning to doubt if that was really true.’

’His own brother, willing to disregard his safety for money... It made him question the very nature of humanity.’

In the days that followed, Kojima Hideko lived in a state of constant pain and despair. He would stare at the sunset outside his window, wondering if he was really going to lose an arm.

He began writing letters to Kojima Tetsumaro, each one filled with pleas and desperation.

But Kojima Tetsumaro never responded. He seemed to have completely forgotten his brother’s plight, focused only on how to protect his own fortune.

Day after day passed, but Kojima Hideko’s arm was never cut off.

Chen Yuan’s words were starting to ring hollow. Kojima Hideko began to understand that Chen Yuan was just intimidating him, using fear to gain the upper hand in their negotiations.

However, the process was excruciating for Kojima Hideko. He spent every day terrified, never knowing if he would see the next.

His mental state gradually deteriorated, and he began to have hallucinations.

On a dark and stormy night, Kojima Hideko watched the raging tempest outside his window as tears streamed down his face.

He remembered the days he and his brother used to play together as children, remembered the promises his brother had made. But now, all those beautiful memories had been replaced by money, rendered meaningless.

Kojima Hideko looked at his brother’s remorseful expression, and the anger in his heart slowly faded. He walked over and hugged him. "Brother, do you know? I was so scared I was going to lose my arm."

Kojima Tetsumaro’s heart was heavy as lead. He never imagined his younger brother, Kojima Hideko, would be kidnapped, let alone for a ransom as high as ten million US dollars.

The figure was astronomical to him; he couldn’t fathom how he could possibly come up with that much money to rescue his brother.

In Kojima Tetsumaro’s eyes, Kojima Hideko was an exceptional young man. He possessed remarkable talent and extraordinary intelligence, and had always been Kojima Tetsumaro’s pride.

But now, his brother was suffering because of his own reluctance to part with his money, and this filled Kojima Tetsumaro with guilt and anguish.

"I know you’re upset, dear," Kojima Tetsumaro’s wife said, trying to console him, "but the most important thing right now is to figure out how to save Hideko."

"But... ten million US dollars..." Kojima Tetsumaro trailed off.

"This isn’t the time to be thinking about money," his wife interrupted. "We have to save Hideko first."

Kojima Tetsumaro took a deep breath and nodded. He knew his wife was right. The most important thing was to find a solution and bring his brother home safely. He began to consider various options, discussing them with his wife.

Meanwhile, Kojima Hideko was also contemplating his next move.

’He knew his brother wasn’t in a good position, and that the most important thing now was to rely on his own strength to save himself. He decided he would have to save himself, to escape this predicament through his own efforts.’

Kojima Hideko said to a member of the security team, "I want to see Chen Qingdi. There’s something I need to say to him in person."

The guard didn’t give him any trouble, instead relaying the request directly to Chen Qingdi. Chen Qingdi granted his request and had him brought to the office for a meeting.

When Kojima Hideko walked into the office, Chen Qingdi was watching him with a smile. "Mr. Kojima," he asked, "is there something you wanted to say to me?"

Kojima Hideko took a deep breath. "President Chen," he said, "I know you’re holding me here based on your trust in my brother. But now, I’m the one who needs your help."

Chen Qingdi nodded, gesturing for him to continue.

For Chen Qingdi knew with perfect clarity that Kojima Hideko had now completely lost faith in his own brother. This persistence of his was nothing more than a final, desperate struggle.